Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsRed Bull Racing

Final test the most important - Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo says the the final pre-season test "will definitely be the most important" ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

Red Bull enjoyed an encouraging second day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday, with Ricciardo setting the fastest time and carrying out a race simulation during 143 laps. With just two days left in the car before he gets to his home grand prix, asked if his focus was already turning towards Melbourne, Ricciardo replied: “Not yet.

"Obviously I’m excited and can’t wait to go there and start racing but the last test will definitely be the most important of them all. I think that’s when everyone will put as much as they can on the car and really see what it’s all about. So we’ll get a few more days back here next week and then head to Melbourne and hopefully be in good shape.”

Having followed Lewis Hamilton on track at one stage in the afternoon session on Friday, Ricciardo said he was unable to catch the Mercedes quickly enough to see how it is performing.

“I didn't get close enough. I came out the pits fairly close behind him but then I think he was on a pretty decent run so I couldn't stay with him to have a look. They looked pretty solid as well - as expected - so we’ll see.

"I’m happy with the amount of laps we did but in terms of performance I’m aware that we can still definitely improve a few things. So some positives definitely to take from it; good for me as well just to get some race fitness in so I can go to Melbourne this year actually having done a race distance so it gives me a little bit more confidence in myself.”

Click here for live coverage of testing from Barcelona

Click here for the gallery from day three of the second test

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.